However, whereas Wenger, despite three years without a trophy, has a certainty and security to his position, Grant is coming under attack from not just outsiders looking in, but Chelsea supporters and even from within his own dressing room.

But for how long is now up for debate. Chelsea can still win the Champions League this season, the bauble Abramovich craves the most, and so offer Grant a lifeline and the Russian a justification for retaining the unpopular coach.

Related Articles

However, the latest round of criticisms over Grant's perceived lack of tactical acumen, especially in big games, and his taciturn and undemonstrative nature in stark contrast to the ebullient Jose Mourinho whom he replaced, has put the Israeli's position in doubt even if Chelsea do manage to beat Liverpool and then either Manchester United or Barcelona in Moscow next month.

Tal Ben Haim, signed by Mourinho last summer yet a peripheral figure since his compatriot took over, is under no doubt as to the cause of Chelsea's recent failings.

"Jose Mourinho is the reason I came to Chelsea," said Ben Haim, "and if I knew Avram grant was going to be the coach I would have signed for another club.

"It was Jose who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me the first time a year ago last January.

"The fact is while Jose was the coach I played most of the games and people who know me know that I would not have come here to be a reserve.

"I knew nothing good would come for me with Grant as Chelsea coach."

Ben Haim's outburst could easily be characterised as the grumbling of a disaffected player, angry at a lack of first team playing time and on his way out of the club anyway.

However, it all adds to a sense of disharmony within the Chelsea camp, one that is set to be exacerbated in the summer when, whoever is in charge, a huge staff turnover is expected.

Real Madrid have stepped up their interest in Didier Drogba. The striker has long suggested he sees his future away from Samford Bridge and Real sporting director Predrag Mijatovic was in London last week to hold preliminary talks with the Ivorian's agents.

Mijatovic has personally watched Drogba this season a number of times and a bid of around £20 million is expected for the 30-year-old.

Frank Lampard, too, is set to leave the club should Jose Mourinho, as expected, take over at one of the big continental clubs, with Inter Milan or Barcelona the most likely destinations.

Should Abramovich bow to pressure from players and fans to replace Grant, current Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard remains the favourite, however members of the Chelsea hierarchy have expressed an interest Michael Laudrup.

Sporting director Frank Arnesen is believed to be hugely impressed with what fellow Dane Laudrup has achieved with Getafe, taking them to the upper reaches of the Spanish top flight, the domestic cup final and almost beating Bayern Munich to a place in the Uefa Cup semi-finals.